I know i'm late but dark souls is awesome

[Dirty Hipsters]

Glad you like the game. I borrowed it a few months ago from a friend and since then have easily sunk 80 or 90 hours into it (I've already told him he's not getting it back ). It's a fantastic game, I love the combat system, the world, and the fact that every challenge requires both skill and thought to overcome.

I've actually only beaten the game once, with a dex build that had a focus on pyromancy, but I've started 3 other characters that I've been playing around with. My current favorite build (and the most difficult of the 4 to play) is a "Guts" build that only uses greatswords and ultra greatswords, no shield and no magic (EVER) and with all levels put into strength, endurance, and vitality. The hardest part of this build is knowing when to switch from two handing the weapon (which allows me to block with it) to one handing it (which allows me to parry). It's a challenging class, but soo much fun.

Fist weapons are pretty fun, but not particularly effective. The best thing that they do is force you to learn how to parry, because you can't block with them. If you want to use the claws I've heard that the thorn armor works really well with them, and using the thorn gauntlets increases the damage on the claws.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Dark souls 2 coming soon to PC so i better slay tom and fuckin jerry soon

Assuming you're talking about Smough/Ornstein and not the kings or something, playing them in heavy armor with high lightning resist and just mowing Smough down with pyromancy is the easy-mode solution. They're weak to fire, their heavy hits have large wind-up time so you can amble out of the way even under heavy-ish load, and Orn's lighting attacks are almost entirely lightning damage so you can soak it with focused armor even if he's too fast for you, then chip him down the usual way once his buddy's dead.

... or i guess you can just summon a friend in if you're REALLY feeling lazy.

EDIT: This isn't that unusual, the bosses in DS are designed very intentionally to be weaker to some builds than others, usually to the extent that you have to pick one and just deal with the fact that there are going to be things that are harder for you.

(You've got a good chunk of the game left to go after them, by the way. The four kings are the opposite, they're still multi-target annoyance but long-range magic and high dex/mobility are easier than armor/pyro... mainly because you'll run out of pyro long before they go down, but they also have good fire resist.)

Smough isn't weak to fire until you kill Ornstein and he absorbs Ornstein's powers. I'm also not sure that Super Ornstein is weak to fire because he might absorb Smough's resistance to it, in which case the only way to capitalize on fire damage is to kill Ornstein first and kill Smough second, if you do it the other way around pyromancy won't be doing max damage against them. If you want to kill Smough first his weakness is lightning. Both Ornstein and Smough (and their Super forms) are weak to magic I believe.

 

[matrix3509]

I just hate how DS2 introduced the Soul Memory system since I enjoyed fighting Duke's Dear Freja and wouldn't mind Jolly Co-oping it at will. Unfortunately after you do it 5 or 6 times you price yourself right out of the summon market. I guess I could push through with the soul collecting until I reach someone on NG7 or whatever to start getting summoned again. Oh well.

Can you explain to me exactly what that thing is? I see it referenced here and there, but I don't know what it means. Does it have to do with you level, or literally the number of Souls you currently have? Because it seemed to me that I was able to fight Dragon-killing Spider Thing as many times as I wanted, but eventually I got bored and went and killed her myself and moved on. It is a very fun fight though, and you do get a lot of souls out of it.

I'm currently trying to beat Dark Souls after all these years. Dark Souls II explained the game and how things work so much better than the first game, so now I don't feel completely lost like I did when I tried it so many years ago.

Soul Memory is a running tally of the souls you have collected in your playthrough. This counts souls spent and souls lost to consecutive deaths. Its primary purpose is matchmaking in PvP or co-op in New Game. When you invade or do co-op you are matched with people who have a similar number of souls in the soul memory. Note this only applies to New Game, and in NG+ all matchmaking restrictions are removed.

 

[matrix3509]

I was late getting onto the Dark Souls train too. Got it when it released, disliked the difficulty and sold it back. Bought it again last year on XBL for five dollars and loved the crap out of it.

I'm not gonna pretend to know what changed over the year and a half I didn't have it, but I'm just gonna be glad it did.

Playing through Dark Souls 2 now; not as good, but still worth playing.

(Damn you, Iron Keep!)

IMO, what hinges the most on people liking Dark Souls is how willing they are to change the way they play and think about games. I know this from experience. I picked up the game at release and got frustrated with Blighttown, and quit. About six months later, I decided that I wasn't going to treat death as a punishment, like most games treat it, and I ended up falling in love.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

You're not late at all, there're always at least half a dozen active Dark Souls threads in these forum.

 

[Mr C]

im sorry if this shouldn't be posted

You are never to late to the Souls party, welcome, glad you are enjoying it!

Have you beaten Fatty and Skinny yet? They were a pain for me too, I'd recommend killing the Knight first. Don't bother with Fatty, I'm sure his health regenerates anyway. Just take your time and make sure you know where both are and as always if you aren't sure about launching an attack at that particular moment, don't.

Fatty gets electric attacks on his lonesome. Just learn the tell for his arse attack. When he does it GTFO there, all other attacks avoid or block then give him a little smack. Rinse repeat, fights all over and you'll wonder why it took you so long

 

[Schmeiser]

Thanks for all the replies guys I've beaten Sherlock and Watson finally (S&O), i accidently dehollowed and found solaires summon sign and he tanked smough the whole fight and even taking aggro from ornstein so i had combos of 5 uchigatana hits on ornstein without taking any damage.

Damn it feels good to walk through that hall without anyone attacking you I think i atleast wasted 50 tries on them but it was worth it, god the amount of satisfaction DS gives you after certain bosses ( Fuck you capra demon until i figured out how to do it).

Next stop new londo, and from what i've heard it's even harder than blighttown

[/quote]

IMO, what hinges the most on people liking Dark Souls is how willing they are to change the way they play and think about games. I know this from experience. I picked up the game at release and got frustrated with Blighttown, and quit. About six months later, I decided that I wasn't going to treat death as a punishment, like most games treat it, and I ended up falling in love.[/quote]

Exactly, once you get over the whole losing souls business and change your mentality it becomes a great experience.

P.S. the way karth just eats you and transports you is so weird

 

[Darks63]

You think O & S are hard wait till you fight the 4 kings those guys are nasty. Then after that you can get smacked around by the DLC bosses and their attack spam.

Me too I am only at O and S now. I think I spoilered myself a bit with internet hints but it took me 30 hours to get to O and S even with some guides so I don't know how long it would take normally. And I have the master key so I could skip the sewers. Maybe I just suck at DS but I do enjoy it. Why do all you people seem to have nice stuff?? All I have is the drake sword and lightning spear and some heavy armour. If I hadn't found that spear by accident I would be totally f**cked. I spent time grinding levels until I realised that it really doesn't help, I get smashed into the dirt over and over and then usually beat the boss without taking a single hit in the end :/

Kite out Ornstein and get some hits in while Smough trundles up trying to close the distance. Dont try to fight them together otherwise you will be a victim of their wham bam thank you man death combo. Rinse the kiting out until Orny ios dean and then just kite Fatboy around shooting him with what ever or run in and do attacks of opportunity, but by all mean avoid his lighting butt slam.

 

[Skin]

Nice to see you enjoying Dark Souls OP. As for Dark Souls 2, prepare for disappointment, it is no where near as epic and memorable as Dark Souls, and I say that with a heavy heart.

Also, when you have done everything you think you want to do, I suggest to check out a video on youtube called "Everything before the gargoyles" by Vageta311. I think you will enjoy it.

 

[stroopwafel]

I'm more interested in what Miyazaki himself is up to. Cause I'm not sure, did he leave From Software, or is he just working on a different game for them? And if he did leave, where the hell is he now?

I wouldn't be surprised if he's working on Demon's Souls 2 or some other PS4 exclusive. I believe Sony already regretted losing the publishing rights of Demon's to Atlus so this could be a way of correcting their mistake. I would love to see another Demon's Souls though, but whatever Miyazaki is up to its probably good news for Souls fans. Not to dismiss Tanimura though b/c I think he's an excellent director as well even if DkS2 played more like a commemmoration/love letter to the original.

Anyways good you enjoyed Dark Souls OP. It's a phenomenal game and almost infinitely replayable. For me it plays like a perfect mix between classic and modern game design. I don't think I've ever been as engrossed and absorbed by a single game(or game series now). The more people enjoy Souls the better b/c it increases the likelihood we get more games like it.

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

Next stop new londo, and from what i've heard it's even harder than blighttown
...
P.S. the way karth just eats you and transports you is so weird

Okay, now, I'm no Dark Souls sage or anything, but I was under the impression that Kaathe doesn't appear until you defeat the Four Kings. If you haven't completed New Londo and killed the 4 Musketeers yet, how can you have met Kaathe? Or are you talking about Frampt?

OT, it's always good to see new people discovering how good DS is. I played Demon's Souls a long time ago and hated it, so I didn't play Dark Souls until it had been out over a year. I don't even know why I tried it, but I'm sure glad I did. I also went with the Wanderer my first time, though I used spears myself, the longer the better.

Don't worry about neglecting faith and intelligence, they're pretty useless unless you're using miracles or sorceries. Use pyromancy instead, it got me out of tons of tight spots in my first playthrough.

 

[Schmeiser]

Next stop new londo, and from what i've heard it's even harder than blighttown
...
P.S. the way karth just eats you and transports you is so weird

Okay, now, I'm no Dark Souls sage or anything, but I was under the impression that Kaathe doesn't appear until you defeat the Four Kings. If you haven't completed New Londo and killed the 4 Musketeers yet, how can you have met Kaathe? Or are you talking about Frampt?

OT, it's always good to see new people discovering how good DS is. I played Demon's Souls a long time ago and hated it, so I didn't play Dark Souls until it had been out over a year. I don't even know why I tried it, but I'm sure glad I did. I also went with the Wanderer my first time, though I used spears myself, the longer the better.

Don't worry about neglecting faith and intelligence, they're pretty useless unless you're using miracles or sorceries. Use pyromancy instead, it got me out of tons of tight spots in my first playthrough.

I mean't frampt, i don't even know where i got the name karth from. I beat four kings on the first try lol, uchi +15 does wonders in damage, seath also done in the first try but i only knew after it that he drops some sick sword(oh well). Now i'm on the artorias DLC and i love how the forest is bright and sunny, nice contrast to the darker world of present lordran (i'm not even sure what happens in the game is real, i have a theory it's just former ghosts relieving their past experiences and time doesn't even flow).

So i know i need a divine weapon for the catacombs but divine can even be upgraded further into occult, so should i go for occult or just keep it at divine?

And i didn't even meet kaathe, i read after the four kings you can talk to him but he never showed up would be nice to meet another primordial serpent, they seem so mysterious and cunning

 

[thetoddo]

If you gave the Lordvessel to Frampt Kaathe doesn't show up. Kaathe is the reputation turn-in for the big evil covenant. If you gave the Lordvessel to Frampt before killing the Four Kings you're locked out of joining that covenant on that playthrough.

 

[michael87cn]

They're easy. Trap smough behind pillars and play defensively. Block, dodge. Wait for your chance to attack, and only attack once, maybe twice if you have a lot of stamina and a quick weapon. Let your stamina recharge, rinse repeat.

Also, summon solaire. He can distract one of them, taking a 2v1 down to a 2v2 can help a lot.

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

Next stop new londo, and from what i've heard it's even harder than blighttown
...
P.S. the way karth just eats you and transports you is so weird

Okay, now, I'm no Dark Souls sage or anything, but I was under the impression that Kaathe doesn't appear until you defeat the Four Kings. If you haven't completed New Londo and killed the 4 Musketeers yet, how can you have met Kaathe? Or are you talking about Frampt?

OT, it's always good to see new people discovering how good DS is. I played Demon's Souls a long time ago and hated it, so I didn't play Dark Souls until it had been out over a year. I don't even know why I tried it, but I'm sure glad I did. I also went with the Wanderer my first time, though I used spears myself, the longer the better.

Don't worry about neglecting faith and intelligence, they're pretty useless unless you're using miracles or sorceries. Use pyromancy instead, it got me out of tons of tight spots in my first playthrough.

I mean't frampt, i don't even know where i got the name karth from. I beat four kings on the first try lol, uchi +15 does wonders in damage, seath also done in the first try but i only knew after it that he drops some sick sword(oh well). Now i'm on the artorias DLC and i love how the forest is bright and sunny, nice contrast to the darker world of present lordran (i'm not even sure what happens in the game is real, i have a theory it's just former ghosts relieving their past experiences and time doesn't even flow).

So i know i need a divine weapon for the catacombs but divine can even be upgraded further into occult, so should i go for occult or just keep it at divine?

And i didn't even meet kaathe, i read after the four kings you can talk to him but he never showed up would be nice to meet another primordial serpent, they seem so mysterious and cunning

Wow, nice job on those bosses. Four Kings took me forever. Even on subsequent games with other characters I have trouble with those jerks.

But if you didn't see Kaathe in the Abyss after killing them, it's because you already sided with Frampt. You can only talk to one of them in a single playthrough; once you take a side, the other leaves.

Here's what you need to know about divine and occult weapons. They are a different form of magic damage, that scales with faith instead of intelligence. Divine weapons work best against undead, such as the skeletons and necromancers in the catacombs. But occult weapons are better for killing living beings. Rather than being an upgrade to divine damage, it is a different damage type entirely. It's useful for killing any foe that is still human, such as Ornstein and Smough (a little late now, of course), or the black knights and silver knights.

Don't worry about putting any points in faith before you enter the catacombs. If you've got a +15 uchigatana and a dex build, no divine weapon is ever going to match the damage you already do; the reason divine damage is essential is to prevent the skeletons from reviving every time you kill them.

 

[Schmeiser]

Ye rocking 38 dex, the katana damage is crazy. I just killed the sanctuary guardian in 5-7 hits and the bleed damage is icing on the cake. Well i don't know how fast they respawn since i haven't gone there yet but if it's fast i'd rather use my divine claw just so they stay down since i'm gonna explore the whole catacombs probably and don't wanna run into the same foes. But since DS2 is out i might just rush through the game so i can start DS2. The demon ruins/izalith/bed of chaos seems more like a chore than enjoyment.

The worst part about DS is all the people you meet in the world then kill them as hollows, the pyromancer guy was so nice i feel guilty for having to kill him.

I think i got lucky on four kings, i never had more than 2 on screen and the second spawned maybe seconds before i killed the previous one. It felt more like a DPS race even tho the rainbow attack that follows is so weird, i never knew how to evade it but for some reason it never really hit me.

Think im gonna try a cleric or sorcerer in DS2, hopefully it provides the same level of fun as a melee dex wielder.

 

[Vrach]

And to be honest i'm surprised no one tried to make Darksouls clone yet.

They have
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/23/lords-of-the-fallen-isnt-just-a-next-gen-dark-souls

Gonna try it out, but I keep wondering what the constant "'more arcade' version of Dark Souls" means in most articles I've read on it (not sure about the above one, it's just the first article I came across when I Googled the game)

 

[Vrach]

I pretty much breezed through the game (i am kinda good at every game except COD) except smough and ornstein. I am probably on my 40th try on them and in most games i would probably just say fuck it and delete the game but dark souls makes me want to try to beat them just because i want to find out what+s gonna happen next.

Do you mean you breezed through the game up to Smough and Ornstein? Because depending on which roads you took, I think that's one of the first harder bosses you'll come up against (not meant to be bashing, just giving you a heads up, prepare for harder fights later on). Also, are you killing Smough first? There's a difference in which of them you kill first (the other one enrages and you get different loot) and killing Ornstein afterwards makes it harder (but also gives you better stuff).

OT: And yeah, I had pretty much the same experience as you with the DS series. I started in Demon's Souls, got it off PS+ for free, figured to give it a go, but was very weary of the game. I'd probably never even try it, but I was out of games and figured what the heck, I'll give it a go. I started getting annoyed after the first boss as I was attempting to go right for the second one in the same world (not a regular progression route), then looked up a few guides thinking "better to spoil it a bit than give up on it". Glad I did, once I figured out what the normal progression route is, I started loving the game.

The thing that appealed to me was the same thing that appealed to you - the "do it your way" approach to everything. DS games never penalize you for defeating a monster a certain way. As Yahtzee said, you wanna sit there and snipe a mob/boss from a mile away where he can't get to you, that's your choice. I don't usually take it, but I respect that it's there, it's far better than invisible walls crap.

The controls are great too, which is a huge plus. One of the most important things to me in a game is that I "feel" my character through the controls and both Demon's and Dark Souls really nail that feeling.

 

[krazykidd]

And to be honest i'm surprised no one tried to make Darksouls clone yet.

They have
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/23/lords-of-the-fallen-isnt-just-a-next-gen-dark-souls

Gonna try it out, but I keep wondering what the constant "'more arcade' version of Dark Souls" means in most articles I've read on it (not sure about the above one, it's just the first article I came across when I Googled the game)

Well , color me interested! I'm definately going to look this game up. Thanks.